AL-ZARQAWI Killed in Airstrike!!

From an email I received from Uncle Sugar...
June 9, 2006

The United States Government has received unconfirmed information of a
possible terrorist threat against U.S. interests in China, especially in the
cities of Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou. This threat also may exist for
places where Americans are known to congregate or visit, including clubs,
restaurants, places of worship, schools or outdoor recreation events.

American citizens in China are advised to be aware of their surroundings and
remain alert to possible threats. Americans living or traveling in China are
encouraged to register with the U.S. Embassy or their nearest U.S. Consulate
through the State Department's travel registration website,
So it begins... the Chinese are rounding up a lot of Muslims in Guangzhou as I type... sucks cuz now I can't get my usual lamb kabobs on the way home from work.
:)
 
bulldogg said:
From an email I received from Uncle Sugar...

So it begins... the Chinese are rounding up a lot of Muslims in Guangzhou as I type... sucks cuz now I can't get my usual lamb kabobs on the way home from work.
:)

That has to suck :cry:
 
I think that the most important thing that can come from this is for the new Iraqi government to put the right spin on these events. If they make the right speeches and the right announcements, they may be able to use the death of the dork to solidify their power and the trust of their people.

And of course, it's probably too much to ask for, but ideally AL-ZARQAWI's henchmen/organization will spend some time feuding over who the next boss-man is. Probably wishful thinking, but you never know.
 
Al-Zarqawi?s Successor Chosen
Associated Press | June 12, 2006
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CAIRO, Egypt - Al-Qaida in Iraq said in a Web statement posted Monday that a militant named Abu Hamza al-Muhajer was the group's new leader. Al-Muhajer succeeds Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, who was killed Wednesday by a U.S. airstrike on his hideout northeast of Baghdad, Iraq.

The successor's name - a pseudonym, as most militants are known by - was not immediately known and did not appear to be on any U.S. lists of terrorists with rewards on their heads. The name al-Muhajer, Arabic for "immigrant," suggested he was not Iraqi.

The choice of a non-Iraqi "emir," or leader, would be significant, signaling that the group was maintaining a foreign Arab command. There were tensions between homegrown Iraqi insurgents and the Jordanian-born al-Zarqawi over strategy, and U.S. and Iraqi officials sought to fuel the differences by painting al-Zarqawi as a foreigner killing Iraqis for his own purposes.
The selection could mean that the group will continue al-Zarqawi's efforts to launch a campaign of violence outside Iraq's borders.

Al-Muhajer is a common alias among Islamic militants, referring to the "muhajireen," Islam's early converts who fled persecution by idol worshippers in Mecca to join the Prophet Muhammad in Medina. Mecca and Medina are Islam's holiest cities in western Saudi Arabia.

"Al-Qaida in Iraq's council has agreed on Sheik Abu Hamza al-Muhajer to be the successor for Abu Musab al-Zarqawi in the leadership of the organization," said a statement signed by the group on an Islamic militant Web forum where it often posts messages.

It said al-Muhajer was "a beloved brother with jihadi (holy war) experience and a strong footing in knowledge."
"We ask almighty God to strengthen him that he may accomplish what Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, God have mercy on his soul, began," it said.

The authenticity of the statement could not be independently confirmed. Evan Kohlmann, a New York-based terror consultant and founder of globalterroralert.com, said there were "a number of Abu Hamzas" in al-Qaida in Iraq, but he had never heard of this one.

"This individual has never before been featured in any piece of al-Qaida propaganda, be it video, audio or text communique," he told The Associated Press. "To my knowledge, he has never been cited publicly by the U.S. military or the Multinational Forces in Iraq as a major figure in al-Zarqawi's network."
Militants usually adopt a nom de guerre made up of a nickname called a "kunya" in Arabic - "Abu," meaning "father of," plus a name that could be the real name of his child.
The second name usually is an adjective denoting their nationality.

Al-Zarqawi, for example, was born Ahmad Fadhil Nazzal al-Khalayleh, but took his pseudonym from Zarqa, his hometown in Jordan. He had a child named Musab, so took the kunya of "Abu Musab."

Rohan Gunaratna, a terrorism expert at Singapore's Institute of Defense and Strategic Studies, said the choice of a non-Iraqi successor means al-Qaida in Iraq is "likely to continue the foreign operations."

Al-Zarqawi had sought to expand his campaign beyond Iraq's borders, most notably masterminding a November triple suicide bombing against hotels in Amman, Jordan, that killed 60 people. He had urged Sunnis across the Arab world to stand up against Shiites, whom he branded "enemies of Islam."

Gunaratna said the speed with which al-Qaida in Iraq named a new leader showed the group was not in disarray.
Last week, the U.S. military put forward another name as al-Zarqawi's potential successor. Maj. Gen. William Caldwell, a spokesman for the U.S. military in Baghdad, identified the "most logical" successor as "Abu al-Masri."

Caldwell could have been referring to Abu Ayyub al-Masri, who was identified in a February 2005 announcement by U.S. Central Command as a close associate of al-Zarqawi. Central Command put a $50,000 reward on al-Masri's head.

Caldwell said al-Masri was believed to have come to Iraq in 2002 after training in Afghanistan. His mission, Caldwell said, was to create an al-Qaida cell in Baghdad.

Al-Masri was believed to be an expert at constructing roadside bombs, the leading cause of U.S. military casualties in Iraq.

http://www.military.com/NewsContent/0,13319,100732,00.html
 
Al-Zarqawi's Successor Vows New Attacks
Associated Press | June 13, 2006

CAIRO, Egypt - The new leader of al-Qaida in Iraq vowed to avenge Abu Musab al-Zarqawi's death and threatened horrific attacks "in the coming days," according to a statement posted on the Web Tuesday - the first from the new terrorist leader.

"Don't be overcome with joy about killing our sheik Abu Musab (al-Zarqawi), God bless his soul, because he has left lions behind him," it said.
The statement was posted one day after the group announced that a man identified by the nom de guerre Abu Hamza al-Muhajer would succeed the Jordanian-born militant as its leader. Al-Zarqawi died Wednesday in a U.S. airstrike on a safehouse in Baqouba, north of Baghdad.

"You crusaders, what will happen in the coming days is something that will turn your children's hair white - battles that will reveal the falsehood of (your) might, the weakness of your soldiers and your lies," the statement said.

The statement, posted on a Web site that frequently airs militant messages, appeared with the black banner of al-Qaida in Iraq and photos of al-Zarqawi alive and dead. Its authenticity could not be verified.
President George W. Bush, who made a surprise visit to Iraq on Tuesday, said a day earlier that al-Muhajer would join the ranks of those sought by the U.S.

"I think the successor to Zarqawi is going to be on our list to bring to justice," Bush said.

In Tuesday's message, al-Muhajer vowed to continue his predecessor's fight, saying "holy warriors" in Iraq were "stronger than ever."
"The holy fighters have made the enemy taste the bitterness of defeat and humiliation. With God's permission, your sons have reached the decisive moment," it said.

Al-Muhajer also spoke directly to al-Qaida ringleader Osama bin Laden, saying al-Qaida in Iraq was "waiting for your signal and we are under your orders."
"We want to deliver good news about the high morale of your soldiers, and the good people fighting under your banner," he said.
The statement identified al-Qaida in Iraq's main targets as U.S.-led troops, Shiites and Sunni collaborators.

"It's no secret the ferociousness of the battle that is going on between the soldiers of right and the soldiers of wrong - the crusaders, the rejectionists (Shiites) and apostates in Iraq," it said.
Al-Muhajer pointed to the western city of Ramadi, an insurgent stronghold, as a possible next battleground.

"The enemies of God are preparing and taking steps to strike the city of Ramadi - what are you going to do against their plans?" he said, addressing insurgents.

The U.S. military has said it is intensifying operations in Ramadi but denied preparing an offensive on the scale of the one against neighboring Fallujah in 2004.

Al-Muhajer appeared to be a foreign Arab, like his predecessor, but little else is known about him. His name had not appeared in previous al-Qaida in Iraq propaganda or on U.S. lists of terrorists with rewards on their heads.

The lack of detail appeared to reflect a new emphasis on secrecy by the group. U.S. forces have launched a series of raids against al-Qaida in Iraq based on intelligence found in the safehouse where al-Zarqawi was killed. The group may fear infiltration or that al-Zarqawi's public stance led to his downfall.
http://www.military.com/NewsContent/0,13319,100979,00.html
 
Autopsy: Bomb Killed Al-Zarqawi
Associated Press | June 13, 2006
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BAGHDAD, Iraq - A medic spent about 20 minutes trying to save Abu Musab al-Zarqawi even as blood ran from the terrorist's mouth after the airstrike that mortally wounded him, the U.S. military said.


But the leader of al-Qaida in Iraq was not wearing the suicide belt he vowed to use if American Soldiers ever caught him.

Seeking to dispel allegations that al-Zarqawi was beaten or shot while in U.S. custody, Maj. Gen. William Caldwell said on Monday that an autopsy performed Saturday proved the Jordanian-born militant died of "massive internal injuries" that were consistent with a blast caused by the two 500-pound (227 kilo) bombs dropped on his hideout.

"A coalition medic treated Zarqawi while he did lapse in and out of consciousness," Caldwell said at a news conference in Baghdad. "The medic secured his airway, at which point Zarqawi expelled blood." He said the medic "noted the breathing was shallow and labored."
Col. Steve Jones, command surgeon for Multinational Forces, said DNA tests done by the FBI positively identified al-Zarqawi.

The cause of death was listed as "primary blast injury of the lung," with blast waves from the two bombs causing bruising and bleeding of the organs. Al-Zarqawi suffered multiple bruises, scratches and deep head wounds, and Jones found no evidence he had been beaten or shot. X-rays also showed a fracture of his right lower leg.

Al-Zarqawi was overweight, a medical examiner said, but Caldwell declined to provide other personal characteristics. He also would not say whether any drugs were found in the militant's body; officials said toxicology results would be released later.

"All the injuries found were consistent with the type seen in blast victims," Jones said. "The abrasions, lacerations and the fracture were likely due to flying debris, or Zarqawi being thrown against a hard object by the force of the blast."

U.S. officials previously had said al-Zarqawi mumbled and tried to roll off a stretcher before dying at the bombed house outside Baqouba, about 35 miles (56 kilometers) northeast of Baghdad.

The military presented the details of al-Zarqawi's death amid confusion over events leading up to it and a claim by a witness that U.S. troops beat the terror mastermind to death.

An Iraqi man identified only as Mohammed, who said he lives near the house where al-Zarqawi and five others were killed, told AP Television News and The Washington Post that he saw U.S. Soldiers after the airstrike beating an injured man until blood flowed from his nose. He said the man resembled al-Zarqawi. It was not clear if he mistook first-aid procedures for a beating.

Caldwell said Iraqi forces were first at the scene. U.S. forces arrived about 28 minutes after the 6:12 p.m. airstrike Wednesday and a coalition medic began treating al-Zarqawi, who was having difficulty breathing. The terror leader died at 7:04 p.m., Caldwell said.

Al-Zarqawi was not wearing an explosives vest despite his frequent claims that he wore one to prevent capture by American troops.
"He was in some kind of black outfit ... which they did start removing from him," Caldwell said. "But there was nothing that said he had a suicide belt on in the report that I saw."

He said he could not provide more details about the condition of the outfit but suggested that troops had probably cut off al-Zarqawi's clothes to facilitate medical care.

The military also said al-Zarqawi's spiritual adviser, Sheik Abdul-Rahman, was killed instantly in the bombing. Abdul-Rahman's wounds, including a fractured skull and multiple rib fractures, were more serious than al-Zarqawi's.

The medical examiner, whom the military did not identify, said Abdul-Rahman was probably closer to the detonation of the bomb and was likely thrown against a wall or had his head crushed.

Both men were believed to have been inside the house when they were killed, the doctors said. The U.S. military also told The Associated Press that the spiritual adviser was not Abu Abdul-Rahman al-Iraqi, who in the past had been identified as al-Qaida in Iraq's deputy leader in statements by the group.

Caldwell also said no decision had been made on what to do with the remains of al-Zarqawi and Abdul-Rahman.

"Right now we're still in discussions with the government of Iraq. They're still currently under coalition control," Caldwell said.

He said the bodies of two women, a man and a young girl killed in the bombing were turned over to Iraqi authorities. None was identified.
The military has promised to release a more detailed timeline of events in the next few days.

A senior Iraqi official said Sunday that U.S. troops may have arrived at the safehouse as much as an hour after the attack - far longer than the 28 minutes Caldwell said it took them to get there.

Iraqi National Security adviser Mouwafak al-Rubaie told CNN the Iraqi police reached the house first. He said coalition forces arrived after "an hour or so."

http://www.military.com/NewsContent/0,13319,100880,00.html
 
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